Refrigerating mechanism



Aug. 4, 1942. G, MUFFLY 2,291,826

REERIGERATING .MECHANISM original Filed July :50,4934 'r Sheets-sheet 2am# f EE- BME ffm@ A TTORNEYS.

Aug. 4, 1942. G, MUFFLY 2,291,826

REFRIGERATING MECHANISM Original Filed July 30, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 357| .fa El 5 1.4. A /Nz/ENTOR Glanz? Mza/'fly A TTO'RNEYS.

'7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 4, 1942. G. Mul-'FLY REFRIGERATING' MECHANI SMOriginal Filed July 30, 1934- Aug. 4, 1942. Y G. MUFFLY 2,291,826

REFRIGERATING MECHANISM Original Filed July 30, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5,7; if, P

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2.25K /5' n 294k 2 555V@ f2-9S @9; 49m wf @Ze/72?' Maz/'fly A TTU/(NEYS.

Aug. 4, 1942. G. MYUFFLY REFRIGERATING MECHANISI Original Filed Jul;r30, 1934 7 Sheets-Shes?I 6 /N VENTO/e 67627)? Maf'lcz/ l if - A TTORNEys.

Aug. 4, 1942. G, MUFFLY 2,291,826

REFRIGERATING MECHANISM Original Filed July 30, 1934 '7 Sheets-Sheet 7NVENTOR TTORNE YS.

Patented Aug. 4, 1942 REFRIGERATING MECHANISM Glenn Mufily, Springfield,Ohio Original application July 30, 1934, Serial No. 737,485. Divided andthis application April 7, 1938, Serial No. 200,736

21 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in icemaking apparatus of thegeneral type disclosed in my copending applications for Letters Patentof the United States, Serial Number 697,124, led November 8, 1933, andSerial Number 719,099, filed April 5, 1934, now Patents Nos. 2,145,773and 2,145,774, respectively. The present application is a divisionalapplication of the copendi'ng application of Glenn Muifiy, Serial Number737,485, filed July 30, 1934, now Patent No. 2,145,775.

More specifically it relates to such apparatus in which the ice, afterhaving been frozen upon a submerged surface, is freed from that surfaceby means of heat transfer from air circulated mechanically and tocontrol means for such apparatus. In this connection', however, it willbe understood that the means herein disclosed may be used either inconjunction with or independently of the general type of mechanismsdisclosed in the above referred to prior applications.

An object of the present invention is to provide better means for heattransfer from the air in a refrigerator cabinet to the outer Walls of awater tank therein at areas in registry with the inner surfaces uponwhich ice has been frozen, thus expediting the freeing of ice from suchsurfaces by melting.

A further object is to provide automatic control means in a refrigeratorcabinet for simultaneously actuating refrigerant control valves and vaircontrol means to direct the flow of air over partsthat'are not beingrefrigerated.

A still further object is to so control air movement in a refrigeratorcabinet that the cold parts exposed to cabinet air are completelydefrosted at each cycle of the ice-making apparatus, thus preventing theaccumulation of frost on same and avoiding the necessity forperiodically shutting the refrigerating system down for defrostingpurposes. f

An additional vobject is to provide spherical mating surfaces ofrefrigerating elements and water tank surfaces with flexible supportingmeans so that each refrigerating element will be held in good thermalcontact with its mating freezing area of the tank wall to produce ice ofuniform thickness and to melt ice free from each of the surfaces inapproximately the same length of time.

Another object is to provide automatic means employing power that isalready available as a lay-product of the operation of the system forlifting ice above the water level in the tank for the purpose of makingit more readily accessible tainer so that purified water and ice may beseparated from that which is less pure.

Still another object is to provide for the convenient removal of therefrigerating system from the cabinet in which it is installed.

Another additional object is to so direct the air circulation in arefrigerator cabinet that the air temperature is kept nearly uniform andthe direction of air flow will be such as to minimize the dehydration offood-stuffs stored in the cabinet by causing the air to flow upwardlyagainst the bottoms of dishes While in its most rapid movement afterleaving the spaces within which it is cooled.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the sameconsists of certain novel features of construction, combination of partsand steps of operation to be hereinafter described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and otherobjects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments ofthe present invention,

and in which like numerals refer to like parts y throughout the severaldifferent views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, partially broken, vertical sectional viewtaken through a refrigerator cabinet in a plane parallel to a side wallthereof, a refrigerating system embodying features of the presentinvention being shown installed therein.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig.1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4of Fig. 3. l

Fig. 5 is a more or less diagrammatic view of the refrigerating systemshown in the previous figures, illustrating the refrigerant circuit andWiring diagram.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, partially broken, vertical sectional view takenthrough a refrigerating cabinet having a modified form ofl tank,evaporator and fan arrangement.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one of the refrigerantmanifold connections for the construction shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view taken on the line8--8 of Fig. 6, showing how fins are attached to the verticallycorrugated outer Wall of the evaporator unit and how a control bulb issecured between these tins, as Well as how a baille is arranged todirect air flow over for removal and of dumping ice into another conthefins.

Fig. 9 is a partly diagrammatic and partly sectional view of evaporatorand control valves such as might be used in the systems illustrated byprevious views.

Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of part of the mechanism shown inFig. 6, showing the air Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewtaken through Fig. 12 on the line I3-I3 thereof, showing a section ofthe evaporator passage thermally associated with the bellows |21.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken on vthe line|4|4 of Fig. 11, showing valve ports and part of the refrigerant path.

Fig. 15 is a broken vertical sectional view taken on the line |5|5 ofFig. l1, showing air circulation means and part of the valve and shuttercontrol mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line I6-I6 of Fig.15, showing the shutter and its shaft.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of theevaporator units of Fig. 15, taken on the line |1-I1 thereof.

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view of a refrigerator cabinet andrefrigerating system, showing the system removably mounted in a cabinet,as in Fig. 1, but modified by placing the condensing unit belowv thefood compartment and making the bottom insulated wall removable with thesystem instead of the top wall as in Fig. l.

Fig. 19 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, of the cabinetand system shown in Fig. 18, and taken on the line |9-I9 thereof.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged, partially broken, partially sectioned, rear viewof the construction shown in Fig. 19, showing details of the valve andshutter mechanism.

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but including a partlydiagrammatic, representation of the refrigerating system and controlmeans with a modified refrigerant circuit and cycle of operation.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of an ice-water tankand an evaporator unit such as might be employed in one of the systemsshown in the previous views, but showing in addition a guiding tubecentrally attached to an ice-forming portion of the tank for the purposeof guiding freed ice rings so that the lower rings will provide buoyantlift to raise the upper rings above the water level in the tank for easyaccessibility.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional l Fig. 27 is a fragmentarysectional view takenl on the line 21-21 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken, partiallysectional view particularly showing details of the faucet 336 seen inFig. 26.

Fig. 29 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the line 28-29of Fig. 26, showing a portion of the water tank and one evaporator unitwith part of the baille.

Fig. 30 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 30-30 of Fig. 29.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3|3| of Fig. 29.

Fig. 32 is a partially broken, partially sectioned view of the water andice tank shown in Figs. 26 and 27, looking at the rear thereof andshowing the ice-lifting mechanism.

Fig. 33 is a partially broken side elevational view of the parts shownin Fig. 32.

Fig. 34 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 34-34 of Fig.33.

Fig. 35 is an enlarged, fragmentary, partially broken view of the icelifter actuating lever shown in Figs. 32 and 33, showing in greaterdetail the spring hinge thereof.

Fig. 36 is a fragmentary plan view of the spring hinge shown in Fig. 35.

Fig. 37 is a fragmentary, partially broken, partially sectioned view ofthe co-acting levers 356 and 351, which operate the ice-lifting rackshown in Figs. 32 and 33.

Fig. 38 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 38--38 of Fig.34, showing the icelifting rack in the tank.

Referring to Fig. 1, a refrigerator cabinet is indicated at 3| fittedwith a removable top wall 32, upon the upper side of which a condensingunit assembly 34 is supported, while the low-side or heat absorbingportion of the system is supported upon the lower side of wall 32.

The door 33 of ca binet 3| is formed with an inwardly projectinginvertedL portion 33', which fits against the wall 32. When the door is openedthe wall 32 may be withdrawn in a horizontal, forward direction, afterrelease of a suitable catch or lock (not shown) which normally holdsthis wall and the parts supported by it in place.

The condensing unit 34 includes the motorcompressor unit 36, thecondenser 38 and related parts hereinafter described and is protected bythe separately removable hood 35. The path of volatile refrigerantcirculated by the system, starting with the compressor, where thegaseous refrigerant is compressed, leads through the tube 31 to thecondenser 38, where it is condensed, through the liquid tube 39 to theexpansion valve or other suitable pressure-reducing device 40. From thispoint the refrigerant flows at reduced pressure through the low pressureliquid line 4| to the manifold 42 (Figs. 5, 6, and 9) connected withpart of the plurality of evaporator units 45, which are arranged in twogroups, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 9, where a part of the refrigerantvaporizes, and thence through tubular manifold 53 to the Valve assembly55, through the tube 56 to evaporator 58 of sharp freezer 51, from whichthe vaporized refrigerant returns through tube 6| to the motorcompressor unit 36, thus completing its circuit.

Referring. to Fig. 3 it will be seen that the evaporator unit 45comprises an annular chamber 45 in which part of the refrigerantevaporates before it passes out to the manifold 58 or 54. Heat-absorbingiins 41 are attached in heat-conductive relation on the exterior surfaceof the walls of the chamber 45 and are secured to the cup-like hub 48,which acts as a retainer for spring 45 which supports the weight ofevaporator unit 45 and a portion of the ice water tank 82. The screw 55is threaded into the nut 5l, which is welded or otherwise secured in cup48 to attach the evaporator unit 45 to the support 52 so that it mayrock thereon. The length of screw 50 and the space between fins 41 aresuch that the screw, after passing through the nut I and the cup 48engages and slightly bends one or more of the fins 41 in such a mannerthat the 1in or nsvact as a locking means to prevent the loosening ofthe screw 50 after it has been screwed in to the desired position. Thisrelation may be seen in Fig. 4.

When the tank 62 is placed upon the evaporator units 45, which are itssole support, the weight of the tank and any water and/or ice thereindepresses the various springs 49 while the evaporator units 45 are freeto rock about their pivotal supports on member 52, thus insuring thatall of the spherical outer surfaces of evaporator units 45 make goodthermal contact with the mating partially spherical surfaces of the wallof tank 62 provided for engagement therewith. The tubes 42, 44, 53, and54 which comprise the manifolds connecting the various units 45 aresufficiently flexible to allow each of the units to assume its correctposition as to height and angle of axis to conform to the positions ofthe female hemispherical surfaces of the tank.

There is a dual need for this good thermal contact, first to insure goodheat transfer from the tank wall to the evaporator unit for the purposeof freezing water within the tank, and second to provide good heattransfer from the fins 41 through the walls of evaporator space 46 tothe same portion of the tank wall for the purpose of partially meltingthe ice that has been formed thereon to free it from the tank wall.

To assist in the melting of ice free from the surface upon which it hasbeen frozen, I have provided a forced flow of air over the fins 41,which also assists in cooling the air within the refrigerator cabinet3i. Referring to Fig., 1, it will be seen that the fan 64, driven by themotor 65 located outside of the refrigerated space, forces a flow of airfrom the upper interior of the cabinet downward through the duct 65 andhorizontally through the opening 61 to the chamber formed by support 52and its bottom cover 68 (Fig. 3).

Referring to Fig.' 3 the path of air may be traced from this chamberthrough ports 1|, which are uncovered by the movement of shutter 69attached to shaft 10. The air passes over ns 41 and downward throughpassage 12 formed by shield 13, which also serves as a guide for theremovable tank 62, preventing damage to the contact surfaces ofevaporator units 45.

The shaft and valve mechanism 55 are simultaneously actuated by thermalmeans, as will be hereinafter described, to-cause air to be blown overthe fins of one set of evaporator units 45 while refrigeration isproduced in another set of evaporator units 45. Referring to Fig. 3 itis .Men that the shutter 69 is positioned to allow air W flow over thefins of the evaporator units at the right hand side of the tank 62,(left hand side in Fig. 2), while the shutter stopsair flow through theleft hand ports 1l and over the left hand row of evaporator units (notshown in this view).

This position of the shutter is shown in Fig. 3

as having Just been assumed, starting the process of melting free theice rings 15 which have just been formed on the right hand side of thetank and starting the formation of ice on the left hand side of thetank. Air is stopped from nowing over fins on the freezing side by theshutter 59 and the wall 15. Valve mechanism 55 allows flow ofrefrigerant from only one side at a time, and this side is always theone in which air flow is stopped. The mechanism 55 for causing thisfxy'elic operation will be described in more detail In addition to thecontrol of ice-making and ice-freeing cycles, the system may be providedwith la conventional control 11 (see Fig. 1) for stopping and startingthe motor-compressor unit. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 this controlcomprises a switch connected in series with the two motors, which are inparallel with each other. One motor, which is included in the unit 36,drives the compressor and the other, 65, drives the two fans 54 and 18,of which the latter is employed in cooling the condenser. As shown inFig. 1 the fan 18 draws air in over the lower tubes of condenser 88 anddischarges air over the upper tubes, providing a counterflow condition.

The thermostat 11 may be actuated by temperature or pressure changes inany of the usual ways, but is here shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 as beingactuated by changes of temperature of the bulb 11' which is connected tothe control by means of the capillary tube 19 and is exposed totemperature changes of both suction tube 6I and the air in cabinet 8l.

The sharp freezer 51 comprises the evaporator element 5 8. (Fig. 1)enclosed by the insulated wall 59 and the insulated door 60, it being soconstructed and arranged that no cold surface is exposed in a manner tocollect dew or frost. Likewise the tube 56 and valve mechanism 55 arepreferably insulated. The hangers support the sharp freezer 51 and theshield 13, which in turn support the other parts of the low side or coldportion of the system, making the entire system removable with theinsulated wall 32.

The shutter 69 might be replaced by a shutter pivoted on a vertical axisas shown more or less diagrammatioally at 8| in Figs. 5 and 24.Directions of air flow are generally indicated by arrows. Refrigerant owis indicated by solid arrows for high pressure vapor or liquid whiledotted arrows are used to indicate ow of low pressure refrigerant,either vapor or liquid.

Electric current is supplied over power lines 84 and 85 .of Figs. 5 and21, leading to motors andl is shown, in which motor 81 drives fan 64,drawing air from the lower part of the cabinet into the housing 88,which, in combination with walls and door of the cabinet, provides anenclosed space serving as an air duct and as a location for the drip pan19. From this enclosed space the air passes upward through one side ofthe baffle 89, as directed by the shutter 83, here shown in position tocause air to flow upward on the left side o f partition 96.

"The air'passes over fins 90 (see Fig. 8) whichA f completion in the rowof right hand cups. 91, i

which are being refrigerated while cups Slat the left are being warmed.y

The shutter 93 and the valves shown in Fig. 9 are actuatedsimultaneously by the vthermostatic device shown in Fig. 10 to causerefrigerant to stop flowing around the right hand row of cups and startflowing around the left hand row of cups at the same instant that theair flow is diverted from the left to the right side of the bafllepan89. Figure 9 shows the valve |0| open and the valve |02 closed, whichcorresponds to the shutter .position shown in Fig. 6, where refrigerantis flowing through manifolds 42 and 53, but not through 44 and 54.

Figure 10, which is a partial rear end view of Fig. 6 with the cabinetomitted, shows the shutter 83 in the same position as in Fig. 6, but itis represented by dotted lines, being hidden by the baille pan 89. Thetwo bellows |03 and |04, shown in Fig. l0, and the parts associated withthem are here referred to as right and left with reference to the mainview, Fig. 6, for convenience in explaining the operation, hence inreferring to Fig. l the reader will follow the lettering instead of theposition of the parts on the sheet.

Figure l0 shows left hand bellows |03 expanded nearly to its maximumlength, which condition is caused by the warming up of bulb |05 (seenbetween the ns on the left side of Fig. 6).' At the same time the righthand bulb |06 has been cooled until the volatile uid contained thereinhas condensed, allowing bellows |04 to contract. A slight additionalexpansion of bellows |03 and a slight additional contraction of bellows|04 will move the forked arm |09 beyond the center line of point l,which is attached to shaft |2, causing this shaft and the shutter 83mounted thereon to move in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 10, which is clockwise in Fig. 6, so that shuter 83 is moved to theleft in Fig. 6, diverting the flow of air to pass over the fins on theright hand side instead of the left hand side.

The arm H3, which is also attached to shaft I2, moves upward, causingrod ||4 to also move upward, pivoting arm ||5 on the rigidly supportedpin |I6 in an upward direction. This moves rod ||1, which is also seenin Fig.y 9, in a direction that opens valve |02 while rod ||8 closesvalve |0|. The seating of valve |0| provides a stop for the movement ofparts ||8, ||1, H5,

, ||4, ||3, ||2, and 83, since shutter 83 swings clear 'of balile 89.The result is that refrigerant flow is diverted to the left side of Fig.6 at the same instantthat air flow is diverted to the right side.

Ice now starts to form in cups 91 on the left side of tank 98 while theice rings already formed on the right hand side are melted free topermit them to float upward in the water. The timing of this cyclicoperation may be established by the selection of suitable volatile fluidfor charging the bulbs |05 and |06 partly full of liquid with vapor ofthe same uid filling tubes |01 and |08 and bellows 03 and |04. Thestiffness of spring ||0 may alsobe varied, to suit and if desired'copro-v vide means for adjustment by ,users or iieldjs'ervicevmen, themovement of' eachbellbws "inone direction may be opposed"byanfadjustable'spring, accordinglto well knownfpraetice "illustrated inFig. v1i of this appucauonj; f1

The rods i|1 and ||8vare1`se-curedin afgastight manner to themovable,headsofbellow's '|19 and |20 respectively. :The: two bellows are madegas-tight with the `housing of mechanism v55 and "as a precautionagainst theformation of rrost'within the two bellowstherflexiblecoverings |2|`and |22 are employed'to close the 4openyendsof the bellows against air circulation. l v

As will be seen in Fig. 8, the baille 89 is formed with its verticalside walls curved inwardly between the cups 91 to confine the aircirculation more closely to the vicinity ofthe fins 90. The motor 81 maybe operated' as described in connection with the motor 65 of Fig. 5, orthis motor may be thermostatically started and stopped withco-incidental means for starting and stopping the motor which drives thecompressor of the refrigerating system. as elsewhere herein described.

Figure 11 is a rear view of a control mechanism such as described, butmodified as to application of expansive force of bellows and as toshutter arrangement. The bellows |26 is shown expanded to nearly itsmaximum under the infiuence of the draft of air which is being blownover it, causing the vaporization of part of the volatile fluid withinthe bellows. This expansion has pushed the rod |28 upward, moving therocker arm |30, at the movable end of which the pin |32 engagesthe Tshaped rocker |34, moving it in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig.11.

This movement has carried the point |35 on arm |34 and the lower end ofspring |36 into approximate alignment with point |31 (see Fig. l5) onwhich the upper end of spring |36 pivots. The cupped spring retainers ateach end of the spring rock upon the points, holding the spring underconstant compression. A slight further movement of rocker |34 will causethe pointed arm |31 to move with a snap action backward as seen in Fig.15, which would be counter-clockwise in Fig. l1, where the point |31 ishidden behind point |38. These two pointed arms are rigidly securedtogether and to the shaft |39, which carries the air shutter |40, whichis thus moved from the position shown to the dotted position |40 as seenin Fig. 16.

The movement of point |38, which engages after a slight movement withthe forked arm |4|, causes |4| and the pointedV arm |42, to which it isattached, to pivot upon the fixed shaft |44 (Fig. 11), which is attachedto valve housing .cover |45. This movement also exes the gastightbellows |43, which joins arm |42 and cover |45. The arm |42 is xed tothe valve rocker |46 and thus moves vvalve |41 to closed position,opening valve |48, the valve |41 engaging its seat in the wall |49 whichalso forms the bottom of the valve housing, seats for the twothermostatic bellows |26 and |21, and the upper wall of vapor passages|5|, |52 and |54.

As shown in Fig. 11, bellows |21 is contracting under the combinedeffect of refrigeration on this half of the evaporator (particularly inthe passage |5 and the force transmitted to it through rockers |30, |34and |3| from the expanding bellows |26. Upon reversal of the shutter andthe valves as above described the bellows |21 will be-warmed by theblast of relatively warm .air

and the stoppage o! refrigeration on that side, while bellows |28 willbe cooled by the refrigeration taking placein passage |52. This willcause T rocker |34 to move in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 11 preparatory to another reversal of the shutter and valves to theoriginal position as shown.

Adjusting nuts |55 and |58, varying thecompression of springs |51 and|58 upon bellows |21 and |26,.may be employed to adjust for length oftime allowed for freezing and for melting ice rings free on each side ofthe water tank 82.

As will be seen in Fig. 16, the shutter |40 is stopped in each directionby contact with the bottom of tank 62, which may vary somewhat inposition with changes in weight of ice and water contained in it, sincethe weight of the tank and its contents is carried by the severalsprings 49, of which one is seen in Fig. 17. Air blown downward by thefan 64 through the duct 66 enters the enclosure between the baille |59and the shutter |40, passes over the ilns of the evaporator units on oneside of thetank, according to position of the shutter |40, and exitsthrough one of the side return ducts |60 and one of the openings |6|,which cause it'to discharge over one of the bellows |26 or |21, fromwhich point it is directeddownward inside of the cabinet.

The drip shield |62, forming the bottom oi' return ducts |60, isarranged to catch drippage from all of the exposed cold parts and drainit into pan 19. With properly arranged parts and temperature relationsit is possible to prevent the holding over of any frost on parts exposedoutside of the insulated sharp freezer 51 from one cycle to the next.This makes the system inherently automatic as to defrosting and avoidsthe need for any special defrosting mechanism such as is often employedto remove frost at less frequent intervals of time. The tube 56, and ifdesired, the tube 8| may be insulated to prevent the collection of frostor moisture thereon at points which will not drain into the pan.

In Fig. 17 the baille and support 59 is seen in section through one ofthe evaporator units. The spring 49 is here shown supporting theevaporator unit in the same manner as shown in Fig. 3, but with certainmodiiications of the evaporator unit and spring location to adapt theseparts to the construction shown by Figs. 11 and 15.

The pin |65 replaces screw 50 (of Fig. 3) and is welded to the fins |66,which are in turn welded to the inner wall |68 of the evaporator unit.This wall |68 corresponds to outer wall 9| of Figs. 6, 7 and 8 in thatit is the wall that does not contact the tank 62. Wall |68 is welded tothe outer wall |69, which in this case is the wall contacting the tank62. Pin |65 is a loose t in a hole in baille |59 and is prevented fromlifting out of same by the snap ring |61, which ts into a groove in pin|65.

Low pressure liquid refrigerant entering the evaporator unit from themanifold 44 is free to flow something less than 90 around the base ofthe evaporator unit in either direction through passage |10 and upwardthrough the passages |1| connected therewith to the circular passage |12at the top of the evaporator unit, from which it flows downward throughother similar passages |1| to the semi-circular passage |13 which isconnected to the outlet manifold 54. Refrigerant is stopped from iiowingaround the base of the hemispherial evaporator unit directly from inletto outlet by the fact that passages |10 and |13 are not connected exceptthrough their several passages |1| and the circular passage |12 at thetop of the evaporator unit.

The ns |66 are attached to the wall |88 between the passages |1| wherethe walls |88 and |69 are welded, brazed or soldered together, thusproviding good thermal conductivity from the fins to the outer wall |69which is in contact with the tank. The principle is the same as thatillustrated in Figs. 6 and 8, in that the iins are attached to the wallnot contacting the tank, but along lines at which the two walls of theevaporator unit are fused together, thus providing good thermalconductivity from the iins to the wall of the evaporator unit whichcontacts the tank in registry with the inner tank wall area on which iceis frozen. This ei'fect may be obtained in the construction shown inFig. 3 by making the walls enclosing the annular evaporator space 48quite thick, preferably of copper.

or other metal having a high thermal conductiv- "ity, so that heat isconducted from the ilns through the walls to the surface that contactsthe tank. I

In Fig. 18 is shown a side elevation in section oi' a modied form ofcabinet |18, having a removable bottom wall |11, on which are mountedall of the parts of the refrigerating system, the heat absorbing partson the upper (inner) side of the removable insulated wall and the heatdissipating parts on the lower (outer) side of the wall. Thisarrangement allows certain desirable f locations of parts'and directionof air ow. as 1vlxifill be understood from the following descrip- 'I'heice and water tank |18 is supported upon ilexibly mounted evaporatorunits as before described, but is located lower in tne cabinet, so thatready access may be had for pouring water into the tank or removing icetherefrom without lifting the water and ice so high and withoutrequiring the special form of cabinet door shown in Fig. 1. The door |19is however slightly different from a conventional door in having alongits lower edge the extended flange |80, which covers the front of theremovable wall |11 and, if desired, the upper edge of door |8| whichcloses the front of the lower compartment in which are located the "highside parts of the system.

The motor 65, corresponding to the motor of the same number in previousviews, is located below the removable wall in Fig. 18 and drives theflexible shaft |82, which passes up through the removable wall to drivethe solid shai't |83 on which is mounted the fan |84. This fan draws airupward from the bottom of the cabinet through air duct and discharges itforwardly through the central air duct |86 between the evaporator units.From duct |86 the air is directed to one side by shutter |40 as shown inprevious views to pass over fins of one set of evaporator units, afterwhich it returns to the rear of the cabinet through one of the sideducts |81. As the air leaves the rear end of this duct |81 it passesover one of the bellows of the control mechanism shown in Fig. 20 and isdirected upward by the baille |88.

` As air leaves baille |88 it turns air wheel |89. which is attached toshaft |90, on the opposite end of which is water screw |9|, whichagitates and causes circulation of water 14 in tank |18. The shaft issupported in a suitable bearing of water-tight construction passingthrough the rear vertical wall of tank |18. 'Ihis shaft together withair wheel |89 and water screw`|9| are removable from the cabinet withthe tank |18, since power is transmitted to the water screw I9I from thefan 0I by means of air without any mechanical connection.

The purpose of the water screw |9| is to produce a slight movement ofwater over the freezing surfaces to improve the clearness of the icefrozen thereon, and at the same time it serves to cause a forward ilowof water and floating ice at the top of tank |18, causing ice to collectnear the front of the tank, where it is easily removable by lifting thecover |92 and sliding it rearward to the position indicated by dottedlines at |92'.

This direction of air flow in the cabinet reverses the normal thermalflow of air, causing a more rapid air movement so that there is lesstemperature variation of air within the cabinet than is usual withthermal air circulation. With this small temperature difference the airwill have less difference in its moisture content and will not rise tothe usual high limit of temperature which causes the drop of relativehumidity and the resulting dehydration of foods that occurs in ordinarymechanically refrigerated cablnets. The more rapid air movement isupward, striking the bottoms of containers instead of striking the fooddirect, which also acts to minimize the dehydration of foods stored inthe cabinet. Y

The water faucet |93 at the front of tank |19 is opened by the lever|94, which is pushed up- Ward by the drinking glass or other containerinto which water is to be drawn. The upward movement of lever B99 aboutits pivot at the front raises the valve member |95 from its seat. Anyleakage of the faucet |93 is caught by the drip catcher |96 and directedinto the drip pan 19.

The tank is removable by lifting o of the spring-supported evaporatorunits, as before described, without removing other parts of the system.Suiiicient clearance may be allowed below the shelf |91 to let the tankbe lifted clear of its evaporator units, or the shelf may be removedbefore removing the tank. The thermostatic control |98 is supported fromthe baille |88 orl otherwise attached to the removable assembly bysuports not shown. It may be located flush with the shelf as shown, toform a part of the shelf surface, or it may be located below the shelfso that it can be removed with the removable assembly without disturbingthe shelf. This control is thermally affected by air temperature in thecabinet and it acts to open the circuit and stop both motors of thesystem in the same manner as switch 11 shown in Fig. 5, which figureshows wiring diagram and refrigerant connections suitable for use inconnection with Figs. 18 and 19. The operation of control |98 is suchthat it stops the system when the air temperature within the cabinetdrops to the desired minimum, which is higher than the minimumtemperature of air required toinsure the freeing of ice from thesurfaces upon which it has been frozen in tank-|18.

The insulated sharp freezing compartment 51 is similar to the assemblyof the same number shown in Fig. l, but is here supported by theinsulated wall |11 and in turn supports the evaporator and otherremovable parts within the cabinet by means of the supports |99, whichare attached to it or to the floor of the cabinet and the sharp freezer.

The door of the sharp freezer is here shown hinged at the top, with ahandle 200, so located that it extends into the space left by the innerbevel of the door |19. The shutter |40 and the bame |59, seen moreclearly in Figs. 19 and 20 are similar to like parts shown in Figs. 11,15. 16 and 17, and the shutter is operated in a similar manner, but inthis case the valve and shutter mechanism (seen in Fig. 20) is actuatedby a pair of bellows which are affected by air temperature only insteadof being affected by both air and refrigerant temperatures as in Figs.11 and 15, or by evaporator temperature as shown in Fig. 10.

The mechanism for valve and shutter operation in Figs. 18 and i9 is seenin Fig. 20, which is a rear view of the tank and control mechanism. Asseen in Fig. 20 the right hand bellows 20| (left hand in Fig. 19) hasexpanded as the result of air blown over it and the volatile fluid (notshown) which it contains. This expansion has tilted the lever 203upward. moving the rocker 205 in a counter-clockwise direction andassisting in moving the lever 204 downward against the lesser pressureof the bellows 282, which is at this time not in the air stream and isbeing cooled by its proximity to the cold section of the evaporator. Thearm 206, which is integral with rocker 205, is thus moved to the left asshown and its point 201 has carried the upper end of spring 208 to theleft until this spring is nearly ready to snap the shaft |39 and shutter|50 in a clockwise direction in the manner described in connection withFigs. 11 and 15..

y The shutter shaft also carries the arm 209 which has at its upper endthe two right angular projecting lugs 2|8 and 2| I. As the shutter movesto the right (Fig. 20) through something more than half of its arc thearm 209 moves with it without acting upon any other part, but during aportion of the latter part of the shutter movement lug 2 l0 engages arm2|2 and carries it to the right, causing it to swing in acounterclockwise direction about its pivot 2|3. When arm 2| 2 has movedslightly past its midway position it is acted upon by spring 2M, whichis supported at its lower end by a fixed pointed member, causing arm 2|2to snap farther in the same direction until stopped by the engagement ofvalve 2|5 with its seat. Meanwhile the movement of shutter and its shaftcontinues until the shutter is stopped by contact with the bottom of thetank |18. The space between lugs 2|0 and 2|| is such that as these partscome to rest there will be a gap between 2|0 and 2| 2 equal to the gapseen in Fig. 20 between 2|| and 2|2, so that both the valve and theshutter are stopped independently, each by its own seat.

This movement causes refrigeration of the evaporator units that havejust been warmed by the air stream and initiates the defrosting of theevaporator units which have just completed the ice-making portion oftheir cycle, as before described.

To remove the refrigerating system from the cabinet as shown in Figs. 18and 19, the door |19 is opened, the door |8| is removed, and the handle220 pulled forward, disengaging the latch 22| from its recess in rail222 upon which the removable wall slides. Above the removable wall is abead 223 in the liner of the cabinet. The distance between the bead 223and the rails 222 is such that the unit base (removable wall) will slidefreely after the latch is disengaged.

When the assembly is removed from the cabinet it rests upon the floor onlegs 224 and 225.

Legs 225 also form the support for the condenser 226. The tank |16 maybe removed with the balance of the removable assembly, but is preferablyremoved before the main assembly and emptied of water and ice as amatter of convenience. In order to enhance the ease of removal of theassembly from the cabinet and to aid in eliminating possible damage toit during removal, the inner edge portions of the front end portions ofthe rails 222 are cut away to a greater width than the wall |11 topermit the wall to drop downwardly therebetween when in nearly withdrawnposition. A stop 222' fixed to the bottom surface of the wall |11adjacent the rear edge thereof moves into intersecting relation withrespect to a depressible stop 222" carried by one of the rails 222 Justto the rear of the cut away forward end of the rails 222, thuspreventing the assembly from inadvertently dropping down at the rear endduring removal. In removing the assembly it is withdrawn until the stops222' and 222" engage each other, the front end of the assembly islowered until the front legs 224 rest on the floor, the stop 222" isdepressed and while the rear edge of the assembly is supported theassembly is completely withdrawn and the rear legs 225 allowed to reston the floor.

The condenser 226 is cooled by air circulation as indicated by arrows.This air circulation is directed by the baille 221 so that part of theair flows through the duct 226 to cool the motorcompressor assembly 229.The springs 236 support the motor-compressor assembly from the removablewall in a manner to minimize transmission of vibration thereof to thecabinet.

Fig. l2l shows a construction similar to Fig. 6, with certainmodifications. as described below. The motor 61 and fan 64 are mountedon the floor of the cabinet 66 and are enclosed by the baie l5| whichdirects the air over the bottom of the entire water tank 62 whenever themotor 61 is operating. The upward air flow is confined by the verticalbaille 252, the side wall of the cabinet, the rear wall of the cabinetand the cabinet door, not shown, so that it first strikes the bottoml ofthe tank and the several evaporator units and their fins and then flowsupward over the tank and up the left side ofthe interior of the cabinet.

The support 253 supports the baille and the spring support 254, whilethe latter supports the manifold tubes 43, 255 and 256 and through thesetubes the evaporator assembly and the tank.

The spring supportv 254, of which several are located throughout thelength of the manifold tubes, and the manifold tubes themselves areflexible enough to allow the various evaporator units to be depressed bythe weight of the tank to afford the good thermal contact beforedescribed.

The refrigerant circulatory path and control means are modified in thisfigure to provide asimplified method of cycling. Liquid refrigerantsupplied to the pressure reducing device 46' through the tube 39 passesat reduced pressure through branch tubes on both sides of the manifold43, hence feeds all of the several evaporator units on both sides of thetank bottom at one time. The manifolds 255 and 256 are connected withoutany intervening valve mechanism to the suction tube 6|, which carriesthe vaporized refrigerant back to the motor-compressor unit 36', eitherdirectly as shown or through another evaporator as shown in other views.After compression, the refrigerant vapor passes through tube 31 tocondenser 36, where it is liquefied and collected in receiver 36'preparatory to starting on another cycle as before.

This operation causes the freezing of ice rings on all of the freezingsurfaces in the tank at one time. When this portion of the cycle iscompleted the bulb 262, which is partly filled with a post 219,

volatile liquid, will have dropped in temperature until the vaporpressure within the bulb, the tube 263 and the bellows 264 has fallen tothe degree which allows the spring 265 to compress the bellows 264,moving the rod 266 and arm 261 to the right, as shown, where the spring269, pivoting upon the point 266 has moved the pointed member 216 in aclockwise direction about its supporting shaft 21 I.

This movement brings the switch mechanism 266 to the position shown,with rocker 212 tilted to the right, closing the contact between theelectrode 214 and the spring contact 211. The insulating strip 213separates parts 212 and 214 so that current is now confined to the pathleading from conductor 64 of the power supply, through switch 11 (hereassumed to be closed) to motor 61 and returning over conductor 26| tobinding spring contact 211, electrode 214, through flexible lead 215 andbinding post 216 to the other side 65 of the power line. The bindingposts, being supported by the insulating cover or base 26| of switchmechanism 266, are insulated from each other and from the metal parts ofthe mechanism.

In the position of the switch mechanism shown the motor 61 is operatingand the motor-compressor unit 36' is idle, so that air, circulated bythe fan 64, causes the ice rings 15 to melt free from the surfaces uponwhich they have been frozen and float upwardly in the water 14 asindicated by the floating ice rings 15. As in the embodiment illustratedin Fig. 22, a tube 269 is removably telescoped over the ends 296 of theice freezing cones along the right side of the tank viewing Fig. 21. Thetube 269 thus provides a guide for the ice rings 15 after they have beenfreed to float upwardly in the water in the tank. The upper end of thetube 269 is curved in toward the left side of the tank 62 so that therings of ice are pushed above the water level and are dropped to theleft side .of the tank. As in the embodiment shown in Figs. 27, 29, 33,and 34, the tank 62 is divided longitudinally by a wall 336. 'I'hisstructure provides means for moving the ice from the right hand side ofthe tank to the left hand side of the tank; and the ice moved to theleft hand side of the tank constantly melts, thus providing pure waterin the left hand side of the tank. This melted ice may provide the waterfor freezing the rings on the evaporators in the left hand side of thetank. Pure drinking water is thus provided in the left hand side of thetank. When this defrosting or melting part of the cycle is completed,having caused al1 of the ice rings 15 recently frozen to free themselvesand float upwardly away from the surfaces upon which they were frozen,the temperature of the bulb form on the refrigerated bands of thehemispherical surfaces of the tank bottom.

Since the freeing of ice depends upon heat absorbed from the air in thecabinet, and the cabinet is used for storage of foods which should notbe frozen. it is desirable to provide a control to stop both motors attimes, or to design the switch mechanism 260 with a spring 265 of suchstrength that the switch will not start the refrigerating system inresponse to such a rise of temperature of the bulb 262 as might occurwhen the air in the cabinet has fallen to the freezing point or nearlyso.

A separate control means is shown by the thermostatic switch indicateddiagrammatically at 11 and connected by means of the capillary tube 259to the bulb 251, which is held in contact with the ice water tank 62 bythe spring clip 258. This bulb, which is suitably charged with avolatile fiuid partakes of the temperatures of both the tank and thecabinet air, hence an eX- cessive drop of temperature of either willopen switch 11. This stops the refrigerating process when an excessiveamount of ice has been formed in the tank. or when the cabinet airtemperature has fallen to a point approaching that which might endangerthe food stored in the cabinet or prevent the freeing of ice rings fromthe surfaces upon which they have been frozen.

The evaporator units shown in Fig. 2l (not numbered) may be of any ofthe types previously illustrated, or as shown in Fig. 22 and Fig. 23 orFig. 25. In Fig` 22 the main support 265 may also act as a baiiie, whilethe secondary support 286 may be a solid wall, also acting as a bailleor part of an air duct. In the event that such use is made of thesupports 285 and 286, the air blast will be supplied above 285 on oneside of 286 and the outlet for air will be on the opposite side of 286,causing the air to flow upward on one side of 266, over the fins 288 anddown on the opposite side of wall 286. It will be seen that the support285 might replace the support 253 in Fig. 21, with an opening throughthe supporting wall 285 between the vertical wall 286 and another wallsimilar to 286 to the left of it. The parts 262 and 256 of Fig. 22 andbulb 262 in Fig. 23 will fit into Fig. 21 and show the relationship ofthese views.

The evaporator unit shown in Fig. 22 is supthe other semi-circularpassage |13 and out through manifold 256.

The tube 289, which is removably telescoped over extension 290 of theice freezing cone of tank 62, provides a guide for ice rings 15 afterthey have been freed to float upward in the water in the tank. Thiscauses the upper rings of ice to be pushed above the water level by theaccumulation of ice rings below them on tube 289, which may be carriedabove the top of the side walls of tank 62 and curved to cause ice ringsto drop off into another container, such as a second tank, in which theice may be melted and refrozen to effect a further purification andclarifying of the ice. It is a well known fact that ice is more purethan the water from which it is frozen when only a. part of the water isfrozen, hence when a part of the water in one tank is frozen, the iceremoved, allowed to melt and part of the water refrozen, the result isice of a considerably higher degree of purity than is obtained by llinga container with tap water and freezing it solid.

The sectional view in Fig. 23 is self explanatory since it is taken onthe line 23-23 of Fig. 22 and shows no new parts. The passages |11 aremore clearly shown in Fig. 23, as is the relationship of the fins andthe wall 286 to the inner wail |68 of the evaporator unit.

Fig. 24 shows diagrammatically how evapo rator units 45 (which may beassumed to be like Fig. 22) may be supplied with air from a centrifugaltype fan, employing a shutter 3l pivoted upon a vertical axis toalternate position 8|. The housing or baille 292 directs air over themotor 81 to the fan 29l, and after the air has passed over theevaporator units on one side it exhausts upwardly or downwardly as thecase may be.

Another method of arranging the fins and the baille is shown in Fig. 25,where the parallel fins 286, 261 and 293 are attached to a heavy innerwall 298 of the evaporator space 295. The wall 29B is preferably made ofcopper or other metal having a high thermal conductivity and is thickenough to provide ample heat conductivity from the fins to the outerwall 293, which contacts the tank 62.

The baiiie |59' is similar to bale |59 seen in Figs. 16. 1'1 and 20, butit is fiat on top of its ridge running centrally under each row ofevaporator units, since the fins fill the space above it nearly enoughto insure that air will pass over or Very near to a fin. While the mostof the Weight of tank 62 and its contents rests upon the springs 49, italso contacts the soft strips of felt or other suitable material 299 tostop air leakage between the tank bottom and the top of baffle |59.

The post |65 is soldered or otherwise attached to the two middle iins296 and fits loosely in baille |59', being secured against lifting outwhen the tank is removed by means of a snap ring |61, a cotter pin orother suitable retainer.

A slightly modified construction, showing other features of myinvention, is shown in Fig. 26, where the cabinet 30| resembles theconstruction shown in Fig. 1 except that the removable top unit is notshown. The door 302 is similar to the door 33 of Fig. 1, except that itslining is tted with a depressed section to clear the water faucet andarranged to conduct any drippage from this faucet into the pan 19.

The water and ice tank 303 is of a modified form, having fiat ice-makingsurfaces which will be explained in connection with the following views.Below the tank is a longitudinal passage 304 for incoming air betweenthe two rows of parallel fins 305, which are attached to and support (bymeans of central iin 305' of each evaporator unit) the severalevaporator units 306. The housing 334 surrounding the fan 29| (Fig. 26)connects with the passage 304-below the tank and between the ns of thetwo rows of evaporating units. Air is blown over the fins, giving upheat to them to melt the ice free and to cool the air within thecabinet. The air, after passing either Way between the fins, is directedupm ward along the two sides of the tank by the baille 3|0.

The auxiliary baiile 335 below the low pressure liquid manifold 43prevents the incoming air from the fan from contacting cold surfaces andlosing its heat before it reaches the fins.

Each of the evaporator units 306. as shown in Figs. 29, 30 and 3l,comprises an outer sheet 301 and an inner sheet 30B. The ns arepreferably of copper, or other metal having a high thermal conductivity,as are the sheets 301 and 308 to which they are soldered or otherwiseattached in good thermal relationship. The middle n 305 of eachevaporator unit is longer at its bottom than the other fins of the sameunit, so that the long iin of each evaporator unit rests upon one of thecurved ribs seen at each of the two longitudinal sides of the springbaille 309, which is in turn attached to and supported by the mainbaffle pan 3|0. The pan 3|0 and the sharp freezer 51 are supported bystraps 80 as in previous views. Thus the waterice tank 303 is supportedby the evaporator units 306, spring baille 309,v main baille 3I0 andfinally by the straps 80, the tank bottom contacting only the outersheets 301 of the several evaporator units 306 on their flat outersurfaces.

'I'he two rods 3| I, which are removably secured in the pan 3| 0, passthrough the fins 305 and 305', anchoring them to the pan 3| 0 withoutpreventing each evaporator unit from moving slightly, independently ofthe other units, to adjust its outer wall to the ice-making walls ii|2of the tank. It will be seen thateach evaporator unit is free to rocksidewise upon the spring baille 309 (Fig. 29), and if it bears `morethan its share of the weight of the tank 303 and its contents, then 305depresses the spring baifle at its point of contact, thus insuring thateach of the evaporator units 306 will make good thermal contact with thetank on both sides of the inverted V into which it fits.

The ice blocks 3I3 are consequently frozen uniformly, one on each sideof the V on inner surfaces of wall sections 3|2. Refrigerant is suppliedby a system as illustrated in Fig. 2l to the pressure reducing device40' (Fig. 29), from which the low pressure liquid passes through themanifold 43 to the space 3I4 of each evaporator unit. After partiallyevaporating in this space, the refrigerant passes through the port 3|5(Fig. 30) to the space 3 I 6' of the evaporator unit and finally outthrough one of the manifolds 255 or 256 to the sharp freezer and then tothe suction side of the compressor of motor-compressor assembly 36- asexplained in connection with previous views.

Electric current is supplied over wires 84 and 85 as shown before, butthe circuit is modified somewhat to accommodate the lamp 32 I, which isautomatically lighted when the door is opened,

' stopping fan motor 81 at the same time in case it is running. Thisoperation will be understood by tracing wire 3I1 from line wire 85 tothe door switch 3|8, which is arranged to connect wire 3I1 with wire 3 I9 (as shown in Fig- 26) when the door is closed, and with wire 320,leading to the connected with motor 01, and when the door is opened, thespring 324 actuates rod 323 and thereby rod 325, causing contact 321 toengage spring contact 329, which is connected to the lamp 32| Thisarrangement insures that the lamp will light whenever the door of thecabinet is opened, and it also insures that the fan 29| on shaft ofmotor 81 will'be idle while the cabinet door remains open. By stoppingthe forced air circulation while the cabinet door is open, I avoidexcessive interchange of air between the interior and the exterior ofthe cabinet. In case Athe fan motor is not running when the cabinet dooris opened the opening of its circuit will produce no effect. The circuitto the motor which drives the compressor is independent of the doorswitch, so that the opening of the door will not affect the operation ofthe compressor. Should switch 260 act to stop the compressor while thedoor is open, it will not start the fan, but the fan will then startupon closing of the cabinet door.

Switches 11 and 260 are connected for thermostatic operation as shown inFig. 2l and act in the same manner, except that the door switch modifiessuch operation of the fan motor and provides for automatic operation ofthe lamp.

'Ihe tank 303 is divided longitudinally by the wailV 330, which stopsshort of the top of the tank, as seen in Figs. 27, 29, 33 and 34.Attached to one side of this dividing wall is the sheet 33|, forming theoverflow return duct 332, which is connected to port 333 through thewall 330. 'I'he purpose of this return duct is to allow water from thebottom of the tank on the right hand side of the wall 330 to flowthrough the wall to the left hand side of the tank whenever the level ofwater on the right hand side of the wall rises to the level of port 333.The level of water on the right hand side of the wall is raised byshifting of ice from the left side to the right side of wall 330, whichshifting is accomplished automatically as later described.

A faucet 336 is located on the right side of the wall 330, so thatdrinking water is normally used from this side only. This is donebecause the operation of the system puries the water on the right handside of the wall, as hereinafter described.

The faucet 336 is provided with the valve 331. (Fig. 28), held closed byspring 338 and opened by arm 339, which is actuated by movement of arm340. The arm 340 maybe moved by hand or by pushing a drinking glass,pitcher or other receptacle against it to draw off the cooled andpurified water. Another faucet may be provided if desired for drawingoff water from the left side of the tank, which is the side into whichtap 'water is normally poured to fill the tank.

The ice frozen on surfaces 3|2 in the left hand side of the tank will bemore nearly pure than the Water from which the ice is frozen, because ofthe Well-known fact that, the process of freezlamp 32|, when the door isopen. Since wire 322 leads from the other side of the lamp back to linewire 84, the lamp will always be energized when the door switch operatesto energize wire 320.

The rod 323 is pushed inwardly, compressing spring 324, when the door isclosed. This rod is connected with rod 325 of the switch, which in turnactuates the insulating swinging arm 326 carrying the`contact 321,' towhich wire 3| 1 is connected. When the door 302 is closed, the contact321 is pushed against spring contact 323 ing causes the precipitation orconcentration of minerals and other impurities from the freezing waterinto the unfrozen water, hence when only part of the water in acontainer is frozen, the ice produced will be purer than the water wasto start with and considerably purer than the water remaining unfrozen.y

I have, therefore, provided means for moving the ice from the left handside of the tank to the right hand side of the tank at each cycle ofoperation. This ice is constantly melting in the right hand s ide of thetank, where the water level is being raised at each cycle by the dumpingof additional ice into the water already there. When the water level onthe right hand side of the wall rises to the level of the port 333 someof the water from the lower portion of the right hand compartment williiow up through the passage 332 and spill over into the left hand sideof the tank.

The water spilled over from right to left comes from near the bottom ofthe tank, Where impurities will have been collected by virtue ofthegreater density of water carrying salts and minerals and because thisregion of the tank is adjacent to the freezing surfaces, whereimpurities are being forced out of the water that is in process offreezing. The Water near the top of the right hand side of the tank willbe mainly water recently melted from the iioating ice, to which more iceis constantly being added at short intervals.

Fresh water is added to the left side of the tank whenever the level isobserved to be low, while ice and water are used from the right handside of the tank. The user will periodically lift the tank oi of theevaporator units, remove it from the cabinet, empty the water and refillthe left side with tap water. The ice and pure water from the right handside of the tank are preferably retained and replaced in the tank.

In the case of water containing desirable minerals the user may wish tokeep the water from the left side of the tank where these minerals areconcentrated. For such use the faucet may be located at the left of thewall.

The automatic moving of ice from the left to the right side of the tankis accomplished by means of the tilting rack 35|, seen in Figs. 34 and38, which is actuated by the bellows 368. seen in Figs. 26, 32 and 33.Variations in pressure in the high pressure side of the refrigeratingsystem are employed to actuate the bellows in synchronism with theice-making cycles.

The tilting rack 35| is secured to the shaft 352, which is journaled tothe tank and extends at the rear to the mechanism seen in rear view 32.'I'he outer edge of rack 35| carries a number of hinged sections 353,which may be hinged downwardly against the action of springs 355, whichare stopped by the hinge rod 354 from pushing the hinged sections 353beyond the plane of the main portion of rack 35|. The hinged sectionsare,

however, free to swing upwardly without aid or` resistance from thesprings.

This action is illustrated by Fig. 34, where the rack 35| and hingedsections 353 are seen at rest Vin their normal position against the wall330.

When rack 35| is moved upward by rotation of shaft 352 the hingedportions strike the wall of the tank and are thereby caused to swingdownward or lag behind the movement of rack 35| as indicated at 353'. Atthe extreme upward position of rack 35| the hinged portions clear thewall and are snapped upward to position indicated by dotted lines nextto top of tank in Fig. 34. On the downward movement of rack 35|, whichis produced by gravity, the hinged sections strike the wall of the tankand swing upward relative to the rack, lagging behind it as shown by353" in Fig. 34.

'I'he power for swinging the rack upward is obtained from the compressorby means of the tube 363, which is connected to the liquid line at apoint `ahead of the expansion device 40'. The pressure effective uponthe bellows to'expand it rises quickly each time that the compressorstarts and falls to a. Very low minimum soon after the compressor hasstopped, due to the passage of liquid through the capillary restrictingdevice 40' into the cold side of the system, where the warm liquidassists in melting ice free.

The bellows 368 is expanded by the rise of pressure when the compressorstarts, stretching the spring 36| and moving the lever arm 358 about itspivot 364 until it strikes the stop 366 at the upper limit of itstravel. The hinged end 351 on arm 358 engages cam arm 356, which isrigidly attached to shaft 352, on its upward movement, thus causing therack 35| to swing upward until the cam arm 356 and the hinged end 351pass beyond their respective arcs of engagement with each other, atwhich point the cam arm 356, shaft 352 and rack 35| are returned bygravity to their original position as seen in solid lines in Fig. 34.

Since the control 260 is so adjusted that the compressor does no t startuntil after a rise of temperature which insures that all of the ice hasmelted free and is floating, the rack 35| is timed to swing upward soonafter the ice has floated up to the surface of the Water, there being noaccumulation of ice in the left hand side of the tank to prevent thenewly made ice from reaching the surface. The rack rises, lifting theice with it until the ice slides oi into the right hand side of the tank(seen as the left hand side in the rear view Fig. 34). The arm 356remains in the raised position during the running period of thecompressor, during which time ice is forming, and drops when thecompressor has stopped and the high side pressure dropped.

As the pressure drops the spring 36| pulls the arm 358 down. compressingthe bellows until the hinged end 351 strikes the angular surface on 356(Fig. 37) and snaps over it to the original position as shown by fulllines in Fig. 32.

Figures 35 and 36 show details of the hinge between parts 351 and 358,which are pivoted together by pin 359 and urged toward the straightposition (full lines in Fig. 35) by the spring 366.

Formal changes may be made in the specific embodiments of the inventiondescribed without departing from the spirit or substance of the broadinvention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a refrigerating systemarranged to cool said cabinet, a sharp freezing chamber within saidcabinet and insulated to reduce heat exchange with the interior of saidcabinet, means associated Iwith said sharp freezing chamber and withsaid system for cooling the sharp freezing chamber,

means within said cabinet including an element forming a part of saidsystem and cooled by said system f or cooling the air in-said cabinetoutside of said sharp freezing chamber. and automatically operable meansfor periodically defrosting said last named means while the temperaturewithin the sharp freezing chamber is maintained at values lower thanfreezing temperatures.

2. In combination, a refrigerating system-an automatic harvesting icemaker cooled by said system and having elements which form a part ofsaid system, an insulated cabinet cooled by said ice maker, said cabinethaving a removable wall section, a shaft projecting through said wallsection, means for driving said shaft, and a fan driven by said shaftarranged to circulate air in said cabinet and over said ice maker tomelt ice free therefrom.

3. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet having a removable wall.section. a door for said cabinet having an inwardly extending portionengageable with an edge of said wall section, Ya refrigerating systemmounted on said wall section, said wall section andsystem beingremovable from said cabinet by sliding forwardly relative to saidcabinet when said door is open.

4. In a refrigerating system, a control for refrigerating apparatusincluding, in combination, a valve element for controlling ilow ofrefrigerant in either of two paths, a spring to hold said valve ineither of two positions to which it-is moved to control said flow, ashutter element for controlling flow of air in either of two paths, aspring to hold said shutter in either of two positions to which it maybe moved t control said flow, a cyclic snap-over mechanism arranged t0cause movement of one of said elements for controlling a function ofsaid system. and co-incidental means for causing a movement of the otherelement.

5. In a refrigerating mechanism, in combination, an evaporator, a watertank removably associated with said evaporator and adapted-t0 be cooledthereby at separate contact areas to freeze separate masses of ice onsaid areas, and water agitating means supported by said tank and movabletherewith.

6. In a refrigerating mechanism, in combination, an evaporator, a watertank cooledthereby, a fan for circulating air over said evaporator.l andwater agitating means in said tank driven by said circulating air.

'1. In an ice making system, in combination. a tank of water,refrigerating means for freezing ice below the surface of said water,means for freezing said ice from the surface upon which it has beenfrozen, means for alternately rendering the two means effective, andguiding means for blocks of ice thus freed to cause them to add theirbuoyancy in oating upward to that of ice blocks previously frozen untilthe combined buoyancy of ice blocks thus guided lifts some of thepreviously formed ice blocks above the level of water in said tank forthe purpose of harvesting ice from said tank.

8. In a refrigerating mechanism, in combination, a plurality ofreceptacles for water, means for freezing a portion of the water in oneof said receptacles, means for moving ice thus frozen to a secondreceptacle where it is allowed to melt, means for freezing ice in saidsecond receptacle from water which is in part obtained from the meltingof ice, and means for returning water to the rst said receptacle fromnear the bottom of the second said receptacle, whereby the purity ofwater and ice in the second said receptacle will be progressivelyimproved.

9. The process of purifying water including the steps of freezing aportion of the water in one container, moving the ice thus formed toanother container, allowing said ice to melt in the second container,refreezing a part of the' and means for transferring water in theopposite direction between said receptacles.

11. Apparatus for automatically makingy ice, in combination, arefrigerating system, automatic control means for causing cyclicoperation of said system, ice lifting means, and means actuated bychanges of refrigerant pressure in said refrigerating system foroperating said ice lifting means.

12. In combination, a refrigerating system, an automatic harvesting icemaker cooled by said' system, an insulated cabinet cooled by said icemaker, said cabinet having a wall section, a shaft projecting throughsaid wall section, means for driving said shaft, and a fan driven bysaid shaft positioned to circulate air in said cabinet and over said icemaker to melt ice free there from.

13. In an ice making system, storage means for water, cyclicallycontrolled means for freezing small separate pieces of ice from waterstored in said means, separate storage means for said pieces of icewithin which the ice is allowed to melt while in storage, and means forreturning the water obtained from such ice meltage to said water storagemeans.

14. In an ice making system, storage means for water', cyclicallycontrolled means for freezing small separate pieces of ice from waterstored in said means, separate storage means for said pieces of icewithin which the ice is allowed to melt while in storage, and means forreturning the water obtained from such ice meltage to said water storagemeans, the ice storage and the low temperature parts of said systembeing located within a refrigerator cabinet.

l5. In an automatic ice maker, control means for regulating theproduction of ice, ice releasing means, ice storage means for releasedice, and means acting in response to variations in the amount of ice insaid storage means to actuate said control means.

16. In a refrigerating system, an automatic ice maker, an ice storagereceptacle, thermostatic means associated with said receptacle at aposition where it is influenced by changes in the quantity of ice storedtherein, and control means actuated by the iirst said means forregulating the making of ice.

17. In an automatic ice maker having ice storage means, surfacescyclically refrigerated, control means regulating said cyclicrefrigeration, and a power element to actuate said control means, saidpower element being responsive to the amount of ice Vin storage.

18. A refrigerating system, an ice maker op- 1 erated by said system tomake ice and release it in a cyclically controlled manner, control meansfor regulating the operation of said ice maker, and a power element forsaid control means, said power element being arranged to act in responseto variations in the volume of ice in storage.

19. A refrigerating system, an automatic ice maker cooled by saidsystem, ice storage means, and thermostatic control means for regulatingthe operation of said ice maker, said control means regulating said icemaker and being also affected by the quantity of ice in said storagemeans.

20. A refrigerator, a main food compartment, an insulated sharp freezingcompartment, an evaporator section to cool said freezing compartment,said evaporator being protected from contact with air circulating inother parts of the refrigerator, an evaporator section for cooling airin said food compartment, a fan to circulate air over the last saidevaporator section, a door for said food compartment, and a switchoperated by the opening of said door to stop said fan.-

21. In combination, a refrigerator cabinet, a removable water tankwithin said cabinet, shelves mounted within said cabinet, a water outletspout for said tank constructed to project Iorwardly of a forwardportion of one of said shelves to provide for drawing water from' saidtank to a separate vessel without moving the tank from its normalposition in said cabinet, and a door for said cabinet, said door havinga cupped surface on the inner side thereof to provide clearance for saidspout.

GIENN MUFFLY.

cERTn-IGATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,291,826. j August LL,-1 ,h2.

GLENN NUFFLY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1l,firstl column, line 58, claim?, for freezing read -freeng; and secondco1- umnyline 5, claim 1l, for "Apparatus" read --In an apparatus-w: andthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction thereinthat thesame may. conform to the record of the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 8th day of September, A. D. 19142.

' Henry Ven Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

